Brad Jensen

9.3

Held up well over the last 28 years! Took a gamble on some birthday wine and it payed off well. Prominent bricking and the cork obviously fell apart, but the wine maintained the rustic, leathery notes of age, with hints of black tea, overripe plum, and some lingering acidic energy, like a ripe strawberry with some dark chocolate. Medium bodied, with some leathery, smoky ash over the dark cherry like fruit, there’s notes of cranberry and strawberry compote still alive in here. The finish lingers for a while, fresh, but not acidic with tannins that only really started to show after a few hours of opening. Grippy, but well integrated. If the measure of a great wine is in its ability to last, this wine has earned the title despite poor storage conditions and lack of faith from its sellers. — 3 months ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Had this for $23? At Al Giardino in Taormina Sicily. A bargain and a different blend. We thought it was great for the price/value consideration. Dark berries and plum. A bit of leather with the tannins just fine. You can pick apart the two grapes in the blend. — 3 years ago

Zack Hall

9.0

Tannins that we’re falling apart, smoky/meaty, high acidity — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.

This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.

Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.

@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit. — a year ago

Victor Charcan

9.0

This 2021 is the freshest Pago I can remember. Expressive nose, with red tones, apart from the plums and blueberries. Good acidity and length. Pleasant. — 3 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.3

Graceful yet powerful…black and blueberry, menthol, vanilla spice, lead pencil, slight jalapeño, mocha, brick color, acid diminished, tannins super smooth and finishes like cali cab…fruit forward and lush…cork fell apart but wine fortunately did not… — 4 years ago

Mary H

9.3

Red berries, salt, wet rocks. Light bright pink for a FUN AND #FLOUNCY start to summer! Mouthwatering citrus acidity with a hint of salinity, and a medium long finish to boot. This went so quickly but would have also been great with seafood or light summer fare. Much more elegant and no bitterness in the finish which sets it apart from other rosés. — 5 years ago

with Louis

Connie Radwanski

9.9

Nice tannis and smooth finish! — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.4

Okay … cork completely fell apart on opening. Wine seemed unaffected though. Deep color but not yet dark. It was not as thick as I would have expected for 16 years. It was a bit underwhelming vs expectation. Not lengthy in its finish and missing the array of tropical flavors but was still good. Just not great. — 2 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.6

There are clarets and then there are clarets - this is the latter. Intoxicating Perfume of currants and tobacco gives way to a palate that is like a time capsule - loads of currants, cassis, cedar, truffle and sous bois. Tannins completely melted. Apart from a touch of phenolic notes in the first 30 mins or so, this is just gorgeous and what a perfectly aged claret should be. — 4 years ago